On tonight's all-new episode of X-Play, we review a ton of games and check out a profile on fitness game Yourself!Fitness. There are many reasons why 2004 will be remembered for years to come, be they wars, elections, or scandalous pop stars. But for a slew of hopelessly addicted massively multiplayer online gamers, 2004 will be remembered as the year that World of WarCraft became a part of their lives. In a genre flooded with blockbuster name competition, against such brands as EverQuest, Final Fantasy, and even Star Wars, Blizzard has shown that it leads the pack when it comes to making incredible, compelling game experiences. World of WarCraft has enjoyed an incredible amount of hype going in to its release, but does it live up to expectations? Without a doubt, that answer is an enthusiastic yes. You know why they call it “EverCrack” don’t you? Because hundreds of thousands of people just can’t stop playing. But let’s be honest here. EverQuest is starting to look a little dated. Ok, not just dated, ugly. So with the obvious intention of creating the next great massively multiplayer online RPG, Sony has unleashed EverQuest 2. And it’s quite an improvement, not just graphically, but everywhere else as well. Fight Club is a game that if it had a voice it would definitively refer to itself in this manner: I am Jack’s dull button-masher. Or, I am Jack’s diluted sense of a cult classic. Or maybe, I am Jack’s unfortunately made game. Or simply, I am Jack’s worst nightmare. Five years after the Palahniuk book-turned-Fincher-film landed a haymaker on theaters, this game is a kick to the junk for anyone who is impassioned about the lauded Fight Club universe. The inimitable John Madden, who has seen more launches than NASA, more platforms than an Olympic high diver, and more praise than a puppy fetching a stick, makes his auspicious debut on Nintendo DS with Madden NFL 2005. It is the first 3D football game on a handheld, the first to s

On tonight's all new episode of X-Play we review what must be one of the fastest turnarounds for an RPG sequel in gaming history. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords arrives less than a year and a half after the first game. Even in such short a time, Obsidian Entertainment has managed to craft a respectable follow-up to X-Play’s 2003 Game of the Year. The Japanese have invaded -- our TV programming, that is. You can't flip to a channel on Saturday morning without seeing some spiky-haired, large-eyed protagonist fighting evil or getting into misadventures. Their numbers are even on par with the amount of infomercials for acne medication, juicers, and ab-enhancers! Props must be given to one of the originators, though -- Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball series has been around a long time, and is still immensely popular in all corners and orifices of this planet, and that's why we take a look at Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3. X-Play also takes a look at Sammy’s latest in the venerable Guilty Gear series, and discovers that apparently in Japan; they’ve never heard the old adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” This Gear game takes its cue not from Guilty Gear X2, but from the old SNK game, Fatal Fury, which seems odd to say the least. The results? Pure, confusing combat carnage, and not always in a good way. Stalwart X-Play fans and gamers in general might recognize the first generation Nintendo DS racing game from its appearance on the Nokia N-Gage and even cell phones, but before that gives you bad mojo, hold on. Asphalt: Urban GT is actually a surprisingly adequate example of a launch title racer. Sure, it’s completely derivative, and hardly takes advantage of the cool features the DS is capable of, but Asphalt still provides a surprisingly fun ride while it lasts. Tune in tonight!

On tonight's all-new episode of X-Play, we look at another Mario Party game. Nintendo and Hudson Soft have released the latest iteration of that perennial party favorite. Truth be told, we’re more than a little sick of the series, which hasn’t had a fresh idea since before any of us was born. But Mario Party 6 is different, or at least different enough to make those of you who’ve given up on the series stop and take a second look. However, the innovation in Mario Party 6 isn’t where you think it is. Spider-Man 2 for the DS hits just in time for the movie’s release on DVD, and X-Play takes a look at how Nintendo’s newest system handles everyone’s favorite web-slinger. Eager true believers will find a mix of superb graphics, familiar villains, and, unfortunately, frustrating level design. If nothing else, Spider-Man 2 is certainly one of the best looking launch titles for the DS, but at a list price of $40, most gamers will likely want more than just a pretty picture. There are few things more important in life than fitting in. Why hang with the geeks and losers when you can be cool, and hang with the popular crowd? Such is the moral lesson being taught by EA, who has taken its Sims franchise to the next level. No longer will you suffer the drudgery of life in suburbia. Now, your on-screen persona can speak in gibberish and pee themselves in a whole new setting -- the big city! And parents take note: The Urbz for Nintendo’s DS is perhaps the newest way that today’s young socialites-to-be can practice their best social-climbing moves, assuring them success in tomorrow's dog-eat-dog world! Most of you probably haven’t heard of the original Bard’s Tale, and if you have...well, we’ll need to have a demographics talk with our marketing people. The Bard’s Tale for Xbox is actually a pseudo-revival of a late '80s RPG series. The original was a first-person dungeon crawl featuring the latest in CGA graphics and fantasy clichés, and this

On tonight's all new episode of X-Play, we review a beloved classic for today’s finicky gamer. Often, these older games lack the deep gameplay we’ve come to expect in modern titles. Or the developers fail to understand just what made the original game so special in the first place. In the case of Sid Meier’s Pirates! neither of these things hold true. This latest update is just as good if not better than the 1987 classic. If Ridge Racer DS, Madden NFL 2005, and Super Mario DS are any indication, we should expect to see quite a few Nintendo 64 ports on Nintendo's touch screen handheld. Ridge Racer DS is a near-identical translation of 2000’s Ridge Racer 64, a title that marked the first time Namco’s celebrated racing franchise appeared on a Nintendo platform. Though Ridge Racer has shifted gears from a bulky gray cartridge to a piece of flash memory not much bigger than a piece of Corn Chex cereal, the DS version adds more vehicles, a new control scheme, and revs up the simultaneous multiplayer action from four to six. We recently took Ridge Racer DS out for a spin to see if it was road worthy or in need of an oil change. After the mess Oliver Stone made of Alexander the movie, it’s hard to get excited about playing Alexander the game. The good news is, Alexander the game isn’t nearly as bad as the film it’s based on. The bad news is the game isn’t that great to begin with. Recent findings at X-Play, based on numerous clinical trials, have established a conclusive link between amnesia and heroism. Our latest study involves Sega’s Shining Tears. The hero doesn’t remember who he is, but he knows how to hack his way through an entire army. But he won’t do it alone. This otherwise standard action-RPG has a cooperative twist, even if you’re playing by yourself. The original Backyard Wrestling was a lame and simplistic button bashing game that relied on some edgy gimmicks, including the inclusion of the Insane Clown Posse, to try

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf. The original MechAssault struck an important chord in the then burgeoning Xbox system. Not only was MechAssault an entertaining, pure action take on the solid BattleTech franchise, it was, more importantly, one of the first Xbox Live titles. Sporting game modes that are now standards, MechAssault was a fun yet shallow play. Day 1 Studios knows that lightning can’t strike twice, so the sequel tries to broaden the playability of the game, on and offline. Kingdom Hearts is the result of one of the most bizarre corporate hook-ups ever and is phenomenally successful to boot. Setting the stage for this year’s highly-anticipated Kingdom Hearts 2, Square’s crossover fan-fiction opus continues with Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. When a racing game has a name like Crash ‘N’ Burn, you’re probably not going to enjoy a safe, leisurely drive through scenic vistas. As expected, the emphasis here is on colliding with rivals, using your car as a weapon to take the competition out of the running. With its focus on demolition racing, budget price tag, online support, and the promise of the “most insane crash effects seen in a game,” Crash ‘N’ Burn seems -- at least on paper -- to be the perfect alternative to a year’s worth of anger management classes. There’s nothing like slamming into a smoke-chugging sports car and watching it burst into flames to help ease the frustration of being cut off or stuck in traffic in the “real world.” By now, everyone who considers themselves a gamer has played at least one music/rhythm game -- be it Parappa, Dance Dance Revolution, Space Channel 5, etc. With that experience comes a few givens for entries in the genre: You know you're going to be staring intently at the onscreen control cues; you know you'll be either trying to put a song together or keep one from derailing; you know that you'll hear some recognizable tracks from today's hottest

X-Play's Best of 2004! We all know X-Play is notorious for it’s “Brutally Honest Reviews,” and the second annual Best of 2004 awards reflects that reputation. The 2004 nominees are listed below (in no particular order), but in order for you to find out what game wins each category and the top-spot of Game of the Year you'll have to tune in to X-Play's Best of 2004 airing tonight, January 26 at 11pm ET/8pm PT. Now, on to the nominees... Best Original Game Donkey Konga – Nintendo Feel the Magic: XX/YY- Sega Katamari Damacy – Namco Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy – Midway Silent Storm – Encore Best Strategy Game Full Spectrum Warrior – THQ Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth – Electronic Arts Pikmin 2 – Nintendo Pirates! – Atari Rome: Total War - Activision Best Sports Game ESPN NFL 2K5 – Sega Fight Night 2004 – Electronic Arts Madden NFL 2005 – Electronic Arts Mario Power Tennis – Nintendo World Soccer Winning Eleven 7 International – Konami Best Role Playing Game Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door – Nintendo Shadow Hearts: Covenant – Midway Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne – Atlus Co. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords – LucasArts Tales of Symphonia – Namco Best Fighting Game Dead or Alive: Ultimate – Tecmo Def Jam: Fight for New York – Electronic Arts Dragonball Z: Budokai 3 – Atari Guilty Gear X2: Reload – Majesco Mortal Kombat: Deception – Midway Best Massively Multiplayer Game Anarchy Online: Alien Invasion – Funcom City of Heroes – Ncsoft EverQuest 2 – Sony Online Entertanment Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to Lightspeed – LucasArts World of Warcraft – Blizzard Entertainment Best Racing Game Antigrav – Sony Computer Entertainment America Burnout 3 – Electronic Arts Need for Speed Underground 2 – Electronic Arts Outrun 2 – Sega Rallisport Challenge 2- Microsoft Best Action/Adventure Game Grand Theft Auto: S

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review one of the best games ever played: Resident Evil 4. Plus, don't miss out on some not-so-happy zombies coming to X-Play for extra work, thanks to the zombie-shortage in Resident Evil 4. We are jaded. Can you blame us? If you had to wade through piles of crap like Aquaman and Drake of the 99 Dragons week after week you’d be just as skeptical. But every once in a while a game comes along that turns the entire X-Play staff on its ear until we’re sharing bleary-eyed war stories the next morning. Resident Evil 4 is one of those games. Filled with more memorable moments than 90 percent of all the games from last year put together, Resident Evil 4 is simply one of the greatest action-adventure games of all time. There’s violence, and there’s The Punisher. Starring in the most gruesomely violent console game to date, this one will test your appetite for destruction. Not only can you hand-cannon your way through the various levels, carelessly firing bullets into anyone and anything, but often you’ll be able to use interrogation techniques that are so violent it will surprise even the most hardcore gamers. Is the violence justified? Strangely, yes. Virtua Quest knows that it’s not really real, and so does X-Play. But the main character is pretty clueless. In his video game world, he’s logged into his own futuristic virtual reality Internet called Nexus, exploring servers to collect lost data and beating up digital bad guys with kung-fu moves borrowed from Sega’s excellent Virtua Fighter series. The concept is interesting, but the execution is barely passable. The most humiliating game on the PlayStation 2, Karaoke Revolution Volume 3 is a fantastic experience that builds solidly on its predecessors. Slicker in every way, this latest version adds 37 new tracks and the ability to co-star on the virtual stage with a friend in duet mode. Perfect for small parties, or to put your shower singing to the test, thi

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review all-new games plus check out the new PSP and get a brief history of educational games with Shad Grimgravy. The first Getaway was a great experiment. It featured none of the standard videogame trappings -- life bars, health packs, ammo counters, etc. -- instead attempting to draw the player in by presenting a gritty, realistic world where things like inventory screens and big green navigation arrows didn't exist. The result was a mixed bag, as The Getaway ended up being totally unique and incredibly frustrating all at once. Unfortunately, Black Monday succeeds and fails in exactly the same ways as its predecessor. On the PC, the Unreal Tournament series is the king of online firefighting, and Unreal Championship has provend (well before Halo 2) that hardcore online action online fits the Xbox just as well. Squarely aimed at giving Microsoft’s shooter a run for itsthe money, Unreal Championship is back for a second round, Unreal Championship 2 is squarely aimed at giving Microsoft’s shooter a run for the money. Only this time, the game is coming frombeing published by Midway instead of Atari. While arcade football became a hot property thanks to Midway’s NFL Blitz series, EA’s NFL Street has quickly taken over the neighborhood. The new kid on the block has found success by doing away with the traditional pads, helmets, and uniforms, instead focusing on seven-on-seven, playground-style football with an over-the-top approach one expects from the genre. NFL Street 2, released within a calendar year of the original NFL Street, is arguably what its predecessor should have been from the start. Although NFL Street was fun, to say it was a little skimpy on the features is to say Star Jones is pleasantly plump. The sequel finally adds some meat to the single-player game and a healthy side dish of new online action to satiate one’s competitive hunger. If the original game was an appetizer, NFL Street 2 is the entree

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review The Lord of the Rings, which is a great trilogy of movies. On the gaming front we’ve been pretty lucky so far. Many of the games released with the LOTR license have been very good. The Battle for Middle Earth is yet another. Mercenaries are people who, for all intents and purposes, get paid to kill people and/or blow things up. Many gamers, on the other hand, are people who pay other people to make games where they can kill virtual people and blow up digital things. If you’re one of the later, you’ll probably be quite happy playing Mercenaries. We at X-Play are still counting, but this game quite possibly gives you more ways to wreak death and destruction on the surrounding landscape than any other game in history. NRA Varmint Hunter is a brilliant tactical shooter. It’s blistering-yet-pure gameplay single-handedly redefines the genre as we know it. Having a breadth and depth seldom seen in modern video games, NRA Varmint Hunter is the kind of game that makes you embarrassed to be a gamer. After the gutting and subsequent demise of veteran strategy game developer Impressions, the future of city-building games looked grim. These were the people behind the classic Caesar and Pharaoh games. But from the ashes of Impressions comes Tilted Mill Entertainment and its new game, Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile. Being the ninja granddaddy of all stealth-action games, the Tenchu series earned the respect of many, including the crew at X-Play. The latest successor to the series keeps the tradition running like a silent ninja in the night, but it doesn’t move fast enough. Fatal Shadows continues to allow some of the series’ most problematic elements to define its identity, and a few new ninja tricks can’t cover them up. Tune in tonight!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. It’s been nearly four years since the last original 2D Zelda adventures graced the Game Boy Color. At long last, Nintendo’s development buddies at Capcom, creators of the Game Boy Color Oracle games and the original Four Swords concept, have finished its Game Boy Advance offering, and it’s every bit as excellent as we would’ve hoped. To be perfectly honest, the proliferation of World War II shooters is getting a bit ridiculous. Where's the love for Korea? Why have no developers explored the action and moral complexity of the Spanish-American War? And the War of 1812 has a built-in theme song…but here we are, mired in the '40s. That being the case, 2003's Call of Duty was among the best to tread these familiar fields. Now a console successor has been delivered: Call of Duty: Finest Hour. Is this indeed our veterans' best showing? We set the way-back machine for 1942 to find out. Feeling that there was an apparent gap between Need for Speed Underground 2, and whatever street racer comes after that, Kemco is jumping in with its own take on the rough-and-tumble illegal sport. Top Gear RPM Tuning takes its long-running racing series to the streets, allowing gear heads to customize their sweet ride from top to bottom while earning street cred. We’ve looked at an early version of the game to get the lowdown. If any game-maker could be considered a cult favorite, it's SNK. This company has died more times than Jason and Freddy put together, but it keeps coming back -- much to the delight of hardcore gamers who clamor for its arcade-centric titles. The company's King of Fighters series is designed as the be-all, end-all of 2D fighting games. Much like the irony behind the name Final Fantasy, however, the series has kept on going for 10 years. This PlayStation 2 two-fer represents the last true arcade versions in all their glory. Tune in tonight!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we preview God of War. The ancient Greeks made great cultural contributions in the fields of philosophy, theatre, mathematics, and art, though at X-Play we feel that their ass-kicking mythology is, perhaps, their greatest gift of all -- at least where videogames are concerned. Sony’s God of War looks to puts this rich source material to good use in this bloody action title. The hero isn’t actually a god himself, but being able to pick a guy up and rip him neatly in half makes him a bit godlier than the next guy. The ultimate schmooze-fest, Playboy: The Mansion puts you into Hugh Hefner’s glorious slippers and silk pjs, with the chance to recreate the Playboy empire. The Sims-based set-up let’s you chat up gorgeous women, famous entertainers, and unlock the pocketbooks of the wealthy, all while changing the world, one magazine at a time. Kemco’s venture into the first-person genre on the Xbox is the budget-priced Chicago Enforcer. Due out later this year, this is a direct port of the PC game, Mob Enforcer, and it's taking aim to provide shooter fans with a period piece alternative to the Halo and Unreals of the world. In Chicago Enforcer, you’ll get down and dirty as a mob enforcer for real life mobster Al Capone in 1920s Chicago. Armies of Exigo is an unremarkable game. This is not to say that it’s a bad game. It looks good, runs well, has a competent design, and makes a few half-hearted attempts at innovation. But there’s really nothing here that we haven’t seen many times before in the real-time strategy genre. If you were to run a focus group evaluating the desires of gamers who enjoy giant mechs, the data would be pretty predictable. When strapped into a 1000-ton machine of destruction, we want detailed weapons, smart enemies, and a tactical approach to battle. And most of all, we want the experience to feel as visceral and chaos-inducing as possible. Despite a promising premise, Gungriffon: Allied

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we check out Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Games based on hot anime properties have a well-earned reputation of being nothing but mediocre attempts to grab more cash from hardcore fans of the series. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex does everything possible to maintain the status-quo, offering up a frustrating, short, boring experience that will fail to satisfy the most ardent fan, let alone entertain the casual player. Is it finally time to forget EA's FIFA once and for all? Konami's Winning Eleven 8, the third U.S.-released installment of X-Play's best sports game of 2004, proves that playing any other game of footie is farcical. From pinpoint control, oceanic game mode depth and more style than David Beckham's latest hairdo, there is no longer a console soccer war being waged. Winning Eleven 8 has won. Don’t call it a comeback. Because, well, it’s not really. What it is, though, is another Digimon game for faithful fans of the series. X-Play remembers when Digi-fever was at its peak so long ago. Does Digimon World 4 have what it takes to earn new fans with its action and RPG blend? If ever there was a definition of the term "video game sleeper," it's The Mark of Kri. Enjoying moderate critical acclaim, it wasn't enough to get people to take notice. Even its biggest fans thought the chances of a sequel were as likely as a Pauly Shore Oscar nod, but Rise of the Kasai has been simmering nicely, and will be served this spring. Tune in tonight!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review MLB 2006. While the majority of Sony’s sports franchises may be in shambles, its baseball game is still going strong, thanks to some interesting features that help set it apart from its competition. MLB 2006 retains most of what made last year’s game a success, namely the franchise mode and the engaging batter-pitcher interface. Most of the improvements come in the form of visuals, animation, and in the fine-tuning of both the pitching and hitting mechanics. If you weren’t happy with MLB 2005, chances are you won’t appreciate MLB 2006 either, as the main gameplay is the same. Yet if you’re a hardcore baseball fan who appreciates an attention to detail, you’ll want to move MLB 2006 to the top of your order. Sega's favorite word is "shining," as it goes into the name of nearly every RPG the company puts out, despite the lack of cohesion with the titles. Shining in the Darkness was a dungeon crawler; Shining Force was a (classic) tactical RPG; Shining Soul was a portable sort of junior Baldur's Gate. For its first "shining" PlayStation 2 game, Sega holds the action/RPG Shining Tears up to the light. SquareEnix is as synonymous with quality role-playing games as Donald Trump is to perpetually bad hair days. The publisher’s latest foray into the fantastic is a role-playing game based on the Japanese anime Fullmetal Alchemist, released in the States on the Cartoon Network as part of its Adult Swim lineup of late-night programming. The aerial combat genre, once a major moneymaker in the PC world, is finally starting to make a comeback on home consoles, and Yager offers up some intense dog fighting action over a series of 22 missions. Being one of the earliest games announced for the Xbox, and seeing as how it's been released over a year behind schedule, Yager does show its age. But at the bargain price of $20, things could be much worse. The legacy of SNK’s NeoGeo system lives on with this excellent re

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review Forza Motorsport. Microsoft has been able to assemble an impressive array of topnotch racers for the Xbox since the system first launched. From RalliSport Challenge and Project Gotham Racing to Burnout 3 and Outrun 2, the system has plenty to crow about. Yet, there’s still something missing; a thorn in the system’s side thanks to Sony’s Gran Turismo. Now, finally, Microsoft hopes that this deficiency will be overcome with the impending release of Forza Motorsport. Given the popularity of the vampire mythos among young, disassociated youths, it’s surprising that there hasn’t been more computer role-playing games based on White Wolf’s Vampire: The Masquerade. The last one, VTM: Redemption was a glorified Diablo clone that utterly failed to capture the style of the source material. The latest attempt, Troika’s Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines might accurately be described as Deus Ex with pointy teeth, but there’s a lot more to the story--both good and bad. In a battle for second place in the console soccer competition--Winning Eleven 8 already wrapped up the top spot over FIFA 2005--World Tour Soccer 2006 brings a brand of footie to the table that has deep game modes, enough teams to spin your head, and gameplay that’s so lacking there’s little reason to get cozy with any of it. A few years back, American McGee made a name for himself with a wildly imagined, if not wildly playable, version of Alice in Wonderland. Essentially a first-person shooter with an overdriven art budget, the game screamed wasted potential. But the veteran of Doom laid low, publicly pondered making a game based on George Romero's films, and turned out this strange PC tale of a robot society turned on its ear. Is Scrapland more style over substance, or did McGee hide some juice under the hood? Tune in tonight!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we check out four game titles including Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to Lightspeed. Plus, a Disembodied Family History. Not to mention, after all the guff about stiffing Xbox's online capabilities, EA is finally doing Microsoft's meal-ticket a favor. The Oddworld brand is no stranger to success, but reviews for the Xbox launch title, Munch's Oddysee, were more varied than the colors in a gi-normous box of crayons. EA has taken the next Oddworld, Stranger's Wrath, under its billion-dollar wing, and the end result is a wholly original, undeniably stylish, and remarkably addictive package that is just what the Xbox needs. Before the Grand Theft Auto series reinvented itself as the 3D car-jacking, pistol-packing, exploring extravaganza it is today, it began its life as a 2D game played entirely from a top-down view. The series returns to its roots for its first appearance on Game Boy Advance, a game that many will be surprised to find on the handheld--especially since the GameCube has been left high and dry. Of course, it’s really a no-brainer. Combining one of the biggest selling franchises in the history of the industry with the biggest selling handheld in the history of the industry is a veritable license to print money. Grand Theft Auto still retains its edgy, M-rated theme while giving itchy trigger fingers a reason to leave home. But will its gangsteriffic gameplay ultimately take a “hit” on the underpowered handheld? Following in the steps of NBA Street and NFL Street, FIFA Street continues the push for every single EA Sports game title to bear the word “street”. Strangely, the street is rarely ever used--generally the athletes duke it out on asphalt, grass and dirt lots. Regardless, FIFA Street is all about getting your kicks with style, crazy moves, and the feeling that this was rushed to market well before it was ready. Tune in tonight!

On tonight's episode of X-Play we take a look at Gundam Battle Assault 3 featuring Gundam Seed. To the layperson, unfamiliar with the giant robot genre, they may be able to discern that this game in some ways incorporates battling and assaulting. To Gundam fans, the title means this giant robot fighting game is pretty much meant exclusively for them. The basic mechanics of firing a laser rifle or slashing an enemy with a laser sword aren’t beyond a casual audience, but Battle Assault 3 does require certain concessions from the pilot. Vendetta Online is an unfinished product. Hey, if you don’t believe us, just ask the developers. Most have felt the sting of playing the latest massively multiplayer online game and feeling just a little bit gypped because most of really cool features are MIA. At least Guild Software has the guts to come out and admit it. That and a surprisingly original development plan make Vendetta Online appealing. Creating cart-style racing games based on platforming characters is nothing new. Rare already did it with Diddy Kong Racing on the N64, while Crash Bandicoot and even Bomberman have all taken their turns behind the wheel of these two-stroke screamers. Rare’s latest, Banjo Pilot for the Game Boy Advance, takes the Mario Kart approach and gives it a third dimension. If the video game industry lives long enough to be the subject of proverbs, than a possible candidate would be as follows: A handheld system without a puzzle game is like a day without sunshine…Or a college dorm without cheesy posters. Puzzle games have been an integral part of a handheld’s software lineup due to the fact that they are traditionally easy to pick up and play, are fun in short time spans, and are less technically demanding than their console brethren, making them easier to translate to the smaller screen. Yet the genre’s greatest challenge lies in coming up with something even remotely original and gives it a third dimension. Let's see how Mr

On tonight's episode, X-Play celebrates their first annual Oscar Show. The Oscars is all about recognizing excellence in film. And X-Play is all about recognizing the lack of excellence when those films are made into video games. Adam and Morgan revisit three recent movie games that take them from the cradle of civilization to the hooker-strewn streets of Miami. Plus, they'll recap some of the worst movie-games in history and have their very own X-Play programmers develop games based on the current crop of Academy Award-nominated films.

Tonight on X-Play, we look at some of the best war games to come out in the last couple of months. Without war, we would be playing nothing but Katamari Damacy, Animal Crossing and Britney's Dance Beat. But instead, the violent misery of some of history's greatest conflicts have brought us delightful entertainment since the dawn of gaming. From Ancient times to World War 2 to Vietnam and North Korea, we bring you the best of war games. Plus, don't miss out on our America's Army feature.

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we preview Star Wars: Republic Commando, which puts you in the mass-produced boots of a clone trooper in the thick of the Clone Wars. Let's see how it measures up. Suikoden IV is a game that casual gamers will find both tough to pronounce and tough to get into. This traditional console RPG revolves around gathering up to 108 characters for a gigantic, boat party of destiny. There are one-on-one duels, strategic naval clashes, a fake ending, and the ability to admire your surroundings (and other characters) from a first-person view. All of these qualities are things we admire here at X-Play; but it seems gamers are destined to suffer a little to get to the good stuff. You don't need forensic science to understand that the point-and-click adventure is a gaming tradition that was born in the text adventure era, and had its full flower around the time that Leisure Suit Larry was still in college (the first time). Now, it's a fallen icon, relegated to bargain bins and television spin-offs--the gaming equivalent of the oldies station. CSI: Miami is, and please excuse the pun, case in point. But despite the anachronistic feel, is the digital version of David Caruso enough to lure players to the dark alleys of Miami? Face it. You love dragons. You cherished Anne McCafferey books as a teenager. You have a signed copy of the Dragonheart DVD, but can't bear to watch the cruelty inherent in Reign of Fire. You have a problem. Especially now because there's I of the Dragon, which puts you in control of a titanic winged lizard as it flies over endless miles of countryside, immolating everything with toxic breath that defies even Listerine. And if this is the answer to long-repeated prayers, you have a bigger problem than we thought. The martial arts medium has become the new crossover kid. BioWare is giving it an RPG slant in the anticipated (and oft-delayed) Jade Empire. Iron Phoenix, on the other hand, mixes one part Ninja Gaiden an

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we once again return to the game that's been scaring the crap outta of us since its release--Resident Evil 4. Almost everyone at X-Play has played through RE4 at least once. So, tonight we'll show you what happens the second go time around. Plus, reviews and previews of some shoooter games. A slick, stylish stealth-fest, Stolen focuses on the thieving trials and travails of Anya Romanov, a belle with better gymnast skills than Mary Lou Retton. Cinematically inspired in a variety of ways, the city environment is half Blade Runner, half Code 46--futuristic and glitzy while maintaining a dark, filthy seediness. The overall feel of the game is as glamorous as swindle flicks like The Thomas Crown Affair and Ocean’s Eleven. Challenging you to steal some of the world’s prized items, you’ll swipe your way through four massive levels--just make sure you don’t get pinched. America's movie heroes are rarely overweight, incompetent sexist cops (Dirty Harry was thin and effective), but if they were, we'd probably still see them featured in games. Spain takes no such discriminatory stance, and the two Torrente films constitute minor cultural hits. It's about time he got a game of his own. What a shame, though, that this hackneyed shambles is even more incompetent than Torrente himself. By all accounts, Nexus: The Jupiter Incident should be a triple-A title. It has an elegant interface, beautiful visuals, stirring music, and best of all, a wealth of things to do. It’s too bad that the game almost never let’s you explore all those cool options. Instead, Nexus leads you down the gameplay path like a dog on a leash. Tune in tonight for more!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we preview Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory. You've got to hand it to Ubisoft. Once it finds something that works, it starts churning out sequels faster than a couple of rabbits in heat. Chaos Theory arrives a year after the critically acclaimed Pandora Tomorrow changed people's conception of what online multiplayer contests should be with its unique, team-based gameplay. Chaos Theory may not be the massive leap forward that Pandora Tomorrow was, but it will offer a much more refined experience. Do you like movies about gladiators? At X-Play, we’re proud to admit that we do like movies about gladiators. Not because of the prevalence of the muscular, sweaty men, but because of the merciless killing and maiming. And when they’re good, we like games about gladiators as well. Now loyal viewers, lend us your ears. Hear our verdict on Shadow of Rome! And release the tigers, for good measure. And don't miss out on our Historical Inaccuracies feature on Shadow of Rome. It's an old joke that the power of Major League Baseball and the NFL reign supreme. But as commanding as those presences are, you don't see major game publishers cranking out individual team games for the Yankees or Patriots. Maybe it's time, then, to take soccer more seriously, since Codemasters has created a Club Football series where each release represents individual teams such as Arsenal, Liverpool, and the subject of our scrutiny, Manchester United. But as powerful as those red jerseys may be, does Manchester United 2005 qualify when stacked up against the major players, or should we flash a penalty card to match their outfits? Given the perennial appeal of fighting robots, it's no shock that Mobile Suit Gundam has produced scads of games. The surprise, however, is that few of them have really been any good. You'd think making a knockout game featuring giant robots would be a snap, but apparently the draw of quick licensing profit always gets in the

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review Tekken's Nina Williams in: Death by Degrees. Ever since Street Fighter II legitimized one-on-one fighting games, the genre has seen some of the most unique, interesting, and downright bizarre characters to ever grace video games. And since these characters are so unique, why not transplant them into the action game genre? Midway tried it once with Mortal Kombat's Sub-Zero, and it was a huge flop. Now Namco's stepped up to the plate with Tekken's Nina Williams in: Death by Degrees. The results, though definitely better than Midway's botched attempt, do nothing to prove this sort of experiment is ever going to work. From THQ comes the pre-requisite game of the latest Keanu Reeves action flick, Constantine. Based on the Hellblazer comic book, Constantine is a third-person action adventure that feels like the spiritual successor to another comic book-based game, Shadow Man. For fans of that under-rated supernatural suspense game, this is shaping up to be a very worthy release. Where oh where have the arcade brawlers gone? Going one-on-one with an equally matched adversary has its charm, but sometimes you just want to plow through a sea of thugs with both fists blazing. Sega's Spikeout is one such title that facilitates this. The arcade game hit in 1997--around the time fighters like Tekken 2 and Soul Blade were putting a hurting on consoles. However, Spikeout: Battle Street marks the series' first home conversion. Proving late is better than never, it's getting all the tasty Xbox trimmings. Plus, don't miss out on our Soul Calibur Theater 2 and our Weird Games segment featuring EverBlue and Fox Hunt. Tune in tonight!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we check out EA’s dunkalicious NBA Street series, which is back for a third trip around the block, this time sporting a bevy of enhancements designed to bring a smile to all the arcade-style hoops fans in your neighborhood. The popular three-on-three b-ball franchise, whose success has spawned such hard-hitting, high-stepping variants as NFL Street and the upcoming FIFA Street, has managed to stay fresh each year by adding just the right amount of twists, tweaks, and new tricks. NBA Street V3 upholds this tradition by improving the control scheme, upping the play modes, and offering more options than its two flashy forerunners. It looks like the WWE might finally make an impact on the Xbox with Wrestlemania XXI. THQ is continuing to refine the series, this time with the help of developer, Studio Gigante. This, the first iteration of the series to not appear on a Nintendo console, is looking to refine the formula. Sporting the highest level of graphic detail yet seen in the WWE series, an improved control scheme, plenty of game modes, and an even more in-depth create a wrestler mode, Wrestlemania XXI is well on its way. Those bad boys are back and sharper than ever in Vivendi’s latest, SWAT 4. The next generation of the venerated first-person take on cop life is from the expert minds at Irrational Games. Best known for such classics as System Shock II, Freedom Force, and the more recent Tribes: Vengeance, Irrational takes a turn at something more realistic, and so far, the results look great. Plus, don't miss out on Stupid Web Games with Shad Grimgravy and KOTOR Spoiler Theater. Tune in tonight!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review Pixar's latest and greatest The Incredibles. When it comes to licensed game titles, Pixar's films should be the perfect gaming template. They've got stylish and memorable character designs, solid stories, and instant audience cachet. And when it comes to turning out games with their roots in such material, Heavy Iron Studios should really have the formula down pat. The developer has cranked out games based on material from The Evil Dead to SpongeBob Squarepants. Its translation of The Incredibles might have been a slam dunk--so why do we feel like its all formula and no fire? It's no secret that X-Play loves the Wario Ware franchise. How can we not? Its convoluted, downright weird sense of humor combined with its frantic gameplay is an intoxicating mix. It's also the perfect formula for a handheld game in that you can pick it up and make progress in a short period of time. So what better to show off Nintendo's latest handheld than a stylus-driven romp through Wario's strange land? That's exactly what you get with Wario Ware Touched! Way back in 1997 Nintendo released Star Fox 64--the first-ever console game to use force feedback in the form of the Rumble Pak. Rife with edge-of-your-couch, space-shooting action and replay value, it still stands as one of the best games on the platform. Now, a hefty eight years later (and one blown semi-sequel in the form of Rare's Dinosaur Planet), Star Fox fans are ready for a real follow-up. Will they get it from Star Fox: Assault? By most measures, Zoo Tycoon 2 is a better game than its predecessor. The graphics are better, the interface is better, and there are more things for you to do. But Zoo Tycoon 2 is also a good example of why a list of great features doesn’t always translate into a superior game. Plus, don't miss out on our dramatic reenactments of Wario Ware. Tune in tonight!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we take a look at Capcom's Devil May Cry 2. It may have suffered from a sophomore slump, you knew the company--and the franchise--would come back in a big way. After all, Dante never backs down from a challenge. The saying proves true: Three really is the magic number--as long as you're hardcore enough to stick with it. The Ace Combat series is known for engaging gamers in arcade-style aerial combat, deploying plot and characters along with its more traditional munitions like cluster bombs and air-to-air missiles. One might say that Ace Combat Advance strips the series down to its basic elements. Unfortunately, they didn’t know when to quit. X-Play to tower: we can’t take it. We’re going down. As bizarrely compelling as the film, though way murkier from both a story and visual standpoint, Constantine is an action game that’s well ahead of its time. Oops, no, wait, we meant its way behind it’s time. If you can get beyond the archaic controls and the jittery camera, you might very well say, "What the hell?," and enjoy this run-of-the-mill action adventure. Based on the film that’s based on the Hellblazer graphic novels, there’s so much basing, it can’t be so bad! Or can it? We're used to baseball franchises that reinvent or revamp themselves every year, both in the real world and in the video game space. But Electronic Arts is bucking the trend in 2005, with what many believe to be its baseball swan song. MVP Baseball 2005 doesn't reinvent the game, instead retaining most of last year's features and adding a handful of welcome improvements. Are the new features enough justification to spend 30 bucks for the upgrade? Tune in tonight!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, Adam and Morgan give us the lowdown of this year's Game Developers Conference and Awards that were held March 7-11, 2005 in San Francisco. Plus, we see what games were hot and not at the THQ Gamers Day and Konami Gamers Day. And don't miss out on Walk of Game, CGs and more!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we take a look at Xenosaga II. When the first Xenosaga came out, it was the first of a promised five prequels to a fan-favorite Square RPG, Xenogears. Two years after the original game’s release, Namco presents us with the second installment in their sci-fi pre-epic. Xenosaga II presents players with a lot of surface improvements over the original game, but look a little deeper and the game comes up short compared to other RPGs out there, and even its forbear. With an obscure and intimidating name like Shin Megami Tensei, you know this is the type of game that isn’t for everyone. People who take their religion seriously might not care for a guy employing Kali, Dionysus, and the archangel Gabriel to beat up on other deities. But hey, you actually don’t make pacts with any demons in Digital Devil Saga. You eat them. We sink our fangs into this wicked RPG and let you know that not only is demon meat rich in the unholy vitamins and minerals that growing teens need, it tastes pretty darn good as well. You’d think that a World War II-themed game that sports the official seal of approval from the Normandie Mémoire 60ème Anniversaire would be, you know, good. Or at least competitive with the hundreds of other tactical strategy games we’ve had to stomach. But D-Day somehow manages to not only be a bad game, but one that actually insults the very event it portrays. Nice job, guys. The Worms series has always hidden deep gameplay beneath a deceptive veneer of cutesy graphics and goofy gags. Forts Under Siege adds a new element to the tried-and-true Worms formula in the form of, well…forts. While the action still features teams of four heavily armed worms trying to blow each other to kingdom-come, it's augmented by the need to build and maintain fortifications. Call it a thinking worm's warfare. Plus, don't miss out on our Great Games Series segment. Tune in tonight!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review Major League Baseball 2K5. When the amazing 2004 baseball season closed, no one knew exactly how intense the off-season would become. Movements in the MLB were mirrored off the field, as game publishers jockeyed for exclusive deals to ensure their own superiority. When Electronic Arts consummated its deal with ESPN earlier this year, we assumed that this game was finished. But after a simple title change, the new Major League Baseball 2K5 has emerged as the series' best game in years. But will Take-Two's new franchise still be on the field come October? If little Hershey Kisses make big, big chocolate then “little” developer Snowblind Studios, a company that has only four games under its belt, makes big, big action RPGs. The sword has been unsheathed for another swing in Champions: Return to Arms, the follow-up to 2004’s chop-and-drop romp, Champions of Norrath. While the developers have stuck close to the formula that helped make the first Champions and the original Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance hits, Return to Arms is like a finely honed blade--easy to wield and never dull. Those who have loved the genre since the days of Gauntlet will be hard-pressed to turn away, even though the game at times feels like an expansion pack rather than a full-blown sequel. Super Monkey Ball has earned itself quite a reputation as a fun party game with some seriously challenging puzzle stages. There was no original Monkey Ball--this series started out as super. The banana-obsessed monkeys in plastic balls had previously been confined to the Nintendo GameCube, but now the rest of the gaming world has the chance to own both titles and then some with Super Monkey Ball Deluxe. Stay with us at X-Play as we scrape every last bit of monkey-related fun out of the barrel. Well, it’s different, that’s for sure. In the land of massively multiplayer games, there really haven’t been that many real-time strategy romps. In fact, the

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review Phantom Dust. Xbox and Japan have always gone together like steak and vegans, but Microsoft's studio in the land of the rising sun did produce one admirable achievement in Phantom Dust. However, defying all logic, Microsoft opted not to bring the game to the U.S. If you consider that Microsoft published Sneakers here--a horrible kids' game about a mouse--you'd see the oddness of this decision. Majesco has picked up the ball and ran with it, and even gave the game a budget price here in the States--and there was much rejoicing. Nanomachines. You just can’t trust ‘em. On this technologically advanced episode of X-Play, we take a look at Konami’s straight-up action game Nano Breaker. After breaking a whole lot of nanos, and getting our own nanos busted quite a few times (it’s a tough game), we’re ready to let you know the consequences of letting these tiny mechanical buggers into your life. Oh beloved technology, why have you turned against us? Most gamers would agree that there could never be too many games featuring ninjas (or monkeys for that matter, but that’s a topic for another time). The combination of stealth, fluid acrobatics, and variety of unusual weapons makes this “occupation” more appealing than your typical samurai, barbarian, hit man, or maverick space cadet for dealing damage. Red Ninja: Edge of Honor is not a traditional take on the genre, either. The protagonist can use her feminine charms to seduce her victims, for starters, and her main style of attack incorporates a weapon you’ve likely never seen before. New developer Tranji Studios introduces a number of interesting ideas in an attempt to make this title stand out from the Ninja Gaidens, Shinobis, and Tenchus of the world. You probably haven’t heard of Dai Senryaku VII: Modern Military Tactics, let alone pondered the thought that there have presumably been six iterations before it. It’s a strange thought, but in case the n

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review Project Snowblind. The premise is about as fresh as a pile of musty sweat socks: Snowblind’s protagonist is injured during a firefight, and to keep him alive, they alter him into a super soldier. Snowblind’s villain is devious, and has a devastating weapon, and must be stopped! To make the stopping easier, the hero is equipped with better-than-Bond toys--it’s just too bad his personality was lost in the aforementioned firefight, because he has a sir-yes-sir mentality that stinks of a brainwashed Marine. But outside of the main characters disturbing obedience, and the game’s glib story, Project: Snowblind is an action-packed first-person shooter with enough style to survive in a crowded field. Just don’t expect it to win the shooter war outright. It's not easy being a stylish, slightly goofy shooter in a Halo world. But that hasn't stopped Free Radical, the developer of the TimeSplitters franchise, from further refining and tweaking the formula that's kept players coming back for multiple installments. The publishing reigns have passed from Eidos to EA, but Future Perfect is packed with the same trigger-happy, silly fun as its predecessors. But without a mature, cinematic storyline, can it possibly be worth a look? Fortunately, answering unnecessary questions is our forte. For years, SNK has been running neck and neck with Capcom in the “beating a dead horse” race, and the latest from SNK could very well put them in the lead. Having already released straight conversions of the various Metal Slug games on both the PS2 and Xbox, its fighting games are a natural next step. The King of Fighters 2002 and 2003 are included in one package for the PS2 (although each is on a separate DVD for some reason), and despite the aging technology they came from, these are still worthy fighters. In this day and age of hyper-realistic driving Sims like Gran Turismo 4, and over-the-top, technologically stunning arcade ra

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we preview Lego Star Wars. Just about everyone has played with Legos at some point in their life. And a whole lot of people have taken an interest in Star Wars. Are these two building blocks going to be a good fit? Will they go together like chocolate and peanut butter? Sit down with X-Play as we take our first look at Lego Star Wars--and hack Lego Jar Jar into tiny Lego pieces. If Splinter Cell had been created in the era of the original PlayStation, the result would have probably looked just like the N-Gage version. This pocket-sized Cell is, unlike its GBA counterpart (and the previous N-Gage Splinter Cell), true 3D and actually quite a technically impressive outing for the oft-maligned cell phone system. As it turns out, Splinter Cell on the run is a fun and remarkably true take on the series. Pity the fool who's just now trying to get into dueling with Yu-Gi-Oh, for they have nothing but an uphill battle ahead of them. Sure, it's just a card game based on a cartoon, but that doesn't mean you won't get whooped up on by every AI-controlled player and their dog--literally. Plus, Games for Cheap People. Tune in tonight!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review Gran Turismo 4. Gran Turismo was one of the first examples of a crossover hit, spurring a whole new crowd--namely car fanatics--to buy PlayStations and become gamers. It helped make video games cool, rather than something that shy, awkward teenagers do on lonely Saturday nights. Since then the series has taken a strict "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach, focusing more on delivering the ultimate car freak's dream instead of upgrading the basic gameplay. Until now, that is. While Electronic Arts has had a measure of console success with the now-exclusive NASCAR license, the company has found PC players much more difficult to please. Recent releases have been consistently overshadowed by the persistence of Papyrus, whose aging franchise remained in players' hearts. With Papyrus now quiet, EA has lured some of that team over to its side of the pit. But the outbreak of NASCAR popularity means that EA has to satisfy not only the classic Sim fans, but the growing legions of casual players. Now, with a totally redesigned chassis, can NASCAR Sim Racing power through the line between arcade and Sim to satisfy both camps? To the dismay of tastemakers and American auto enthusiasts, import street racing continues to thrive. And since few of us have the cash necessary to properly pimp that little import hatchback, it's up to the game space to manufacture the illusion that everyone can have their own collection of aftermarket plastic. Kemco's Top Gear is a series that's been around for years, originally debuting on the Super Nintendo, and even then upgrades and performance tuning were part of the package. That experience seems to weigh lightly on Top Gear RPM Tuning, however, which falters even as it leaves the starting line. Plus, don't miss out on our Polyphony and The Long Road to GT4 features. Tune in tonight!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory. Has it only been a little over two years since Ubisoft unleashed the first Splinter Cell? It doesn't seem possible, especially since we're now looking at release number three. But Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory not only presents a new techno-thriller to occupy super spy Sam Fisher, it offers players all the flexibility they wanted in the first two games. With Microsoft and Sony battling it out for the heart and mind of the core gamer, Nintendo is a company struggling to maintain its identity as the game publisher that offers unique, engaging experiences you simply can't find anywhere else. It's lead to a reputation of innovation for the sake of innovation, something that Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat represents perfectly. Fans of CSI and serial killer thrillers will be getting an adventure game just for them soon. From the developer of Syberia and Post Mortem, Still Life is an interesting melding of classic point-and-click adventuring and the current pop culture fascination with criminal investigations and homicidal maniacs. For fans of Port Mortem, there’s the added bonus of a direct tie to that game, since your alter ego here is the granddaughter of the older game’s protagonist, Gus McPherson, and you’ll even play him in psychic flashbacks. Much like an un-brushed mouth is a breeding ground for the gum disease gingivitis, Game Boy has always been beset by Pokemon clones. Shaman King, drawing from the cartoon of the same name, is the latest in a long line. The new elements it brings to the table make it better than most GBA RPGs, however, and help separate it from the other pretenders out there (Dragon Warrior Monsters, Robopon, Beyblade, etc.). Ever find yourself wanting to play a game where you’ll spend upwards of 20 hours in the shoes of a low-level advertising executive? No? What about an advertising executive from 2044 who lives in a futuristic city riddled with ta

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review Dynasty Warriors 5. There are two different philosophies when designing sequels to successful games. One approach is to use the first game as a springboard to try something new, something more ambitious, like recent entries in the Jak and Daxter or Grand Theft Auto franchises, which risks disappointing the target audience. The safe approach is to add more features without altering what made the original a success. Dynasty Warriors 5 falls into the latter category, which should be as surprising to fans as discovering puddles after a thunderstorm. While there is certainly more here to savor for those who love clanging steel for hours at a time, Dynasty Warriors 5 is a safe sequel that won’t lure in a new audience to the series. Of course, that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable to play. While Koei isn’t the first company to invent the action-strategy genre, the Japanese publisher has milked it for all its worth, releasing a slew of console games designed to appeal to those who like to use their grey matter as much as their thumbs. The Kessen series began as a traditional war game, where players issued commands and watched as epic battles unfolded in real time, but thanks to the overwhelming success of the company’s Dynasty Warriors series, the tactical phase has now taken a back seat in favor of more sword-swinging, pike-piercing, smoke-swirling action in Kessen III. The slickly produced cinematic sequences are still here, and players are still able to issue orders and plan out their strategy before each battle, but once the horses start galloping, you will be an active participant in the war instead of a patient observer. Mention D.W. Bradley to your fellow gaming friends and you’re bound to get nothing more than a bunch of puzzled stares. But anyone who fondly remembers the heyday of DOS gaming knows D.W. Bradley should really be a household name. He’s the person behind the best trilogy in the long-running

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review Rise of the Kasai. The Mark of Kri was somewhat of a sleeper hit on PlayStation 2, a game that received little hype, but ended up being one of Sony’s most memorable titles for 2002. Combining an innovative control scheme that made use of both analog sticks for fighting and rich, cartoon-like graphics and animation, The Mark of Kri seamlessly blended stealth, explosive bursts of violence, and most importantly, a distinctive sense of style. Rise of the Kasai continues the exploits of the barrel-jawed barbarian named Rau and his feathered friend Kuzo, but this time he is joined by his sister, Tati, who has more curves than Mullholland Drive and is just as dangerous at high speeds. Hollywood special effects legend Stan Winston’s designed some of the scariest monsters ever seen, including Jurassic Park’s dinosaurs and the predator. Now he’s lending his talents to Area 51, an ambitious first-person shooter inspired by the classic arcade light gun game. Given the title’s obvious potential--everyone loves a futuristic firefight, as evidenced by Halo 2’s multimillion-selling success--X-Play couldn’t resist taking an advance look at the adventure. With retro compilations being the current cash cow of the gaming industry, it's surprising that more old-school publishers aren't getting on the bandwagon. As it stands, Midway's still the only company to cash in on this little phenomenon in any meaningful way, offering dozens of arcade classics at bargain bin prices. Sega's finally stepping up with Sega Classics Collection, though unlike Midway it's decided to rework the nine games found on this retro disc. The results are less than spectacular. So far in this console generation, Konami and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been like supermodels and sumo--two otherwise decent things best left in their own little worlds. Nevertheless, they team up once again for TMNT: Mutant Melee, a party-style fighting game heav

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we mere-mortals contemplate the worth of the latest and possibly greatest action game on the PlayStation 2, God of War. Without question, God of War is one of the best games of its kind, but how close does the game come to perfection? At X-Play, we believe anyone can appreciate a good fighting game if you get a controller in their hands and get them to choose that one special character and pull off that one special move that will flip their cerebral power switch. Tekken 5 has hundreds upon hundreds of moves, and it looks fantastic. We can’t guarantee that the game will turn anyone on who touches it--it's certainly geared for fans--but for what it is it’s a damn good fighting game. With Tom Clancy’s various series of games dominating both the tactical shooter market and the stealth action realm, there’s not much room for other techno-thriller authors to carve themselves a niche in the PC gaming world. However, Clancy’s gaming empire has yet to set its sites on real-time strategy, a once hotly contested but recently very stagnant genre. Act of War: Direct Action is set to change all that. With a storyline penned by Dale Brown (a Clancy competitor), some fancy graphics, and production values far beyond anything this genre has seen before, Act of War: Direct Action brings some much needed life to pointing-and-clicking. As a niche publisher, Working Designs has a pretty good gig. They hand-pick Japanese games (mostly RPGs) deemed worthy for our consumption, localize them, and release them to a throng of salivating otaku here in the States. They have always had a knack for picking up interesting games that we might never get to see, and for that we are grateful. But their localization efforts are sometimes groan inducing. X-Play has found that with Growlanser: Generations, Working Designs has come a long way, baby. Klonoa is Namco’s answer to Sonic, and while the two series have a lot of similarities (not the least

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review Samurai Legend Musashi. If you like Kingdom Hearts--the Disney-based RPG from Square-Enix from a couple years back--you should dig Samurai Legend Musashi. It features a lot of similarities, not the least of which is the rather effeminate character design. Musashi looks less like a bad-ass samurai and more like he should be club-hopping. The problem with being so similar to Kingdom Hearts is that, well, Kingdom Hearts had a few issues. And most of those problems have carried over to Musashi as well. Hot on the heels of The Sims 2 comes University, the first in what will probably be hundreds of expansion packs for Maxis’ latest version of digital crack. Now that sim children can grow up and lead productive lives of their own, it’s only natural to give them four years to live, love, party, and maybe even learn a thing or two before entering the rat race of adult life. And that’s just what University offers. Pokemon Dash is one of the few games that truly takes advantage of the unique abilities of the Nintendo DS, but that doesn’t mean that eager DS owners should rush to the stores for it. This strangely discombobulated rush of Pikachu worship was developed by Ambrella, the same folks over in Japan who brought Nintendo 64 owners that classic, Hey You, Pikachu! You remember that one, right? The voice recognition game designed to make you insane by screaming at a small, yellow, cooing freaky rat thing? Rainbow Studios loves to ride on the wild side. Check its resume, which includes extreme sports smashes like Splashdown and Motocross Madness. But with gamers’ interest in the subject waning, the outfit finds itself faced with a tough choice: figure out a means of cleverly rehashing existing themes or steer the public in a different direction. Luckily, as we at X-Play discover, the developer’s done both, finding a happy medium in MX vs. ATV Unleashed, a bizarre hybrid of off-road racing and arcade-style play.

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review Star Wars: Republic Commando. A long time ago, in a galaxy not far away, flooding the market with substandard licensed games was as common as a wookiee in need of a flea dip. Yet we are now in the golden age of electronic entertainment, where a movie-inspired game does not necessarily mean that quality has tumbled into the carbon-freezing chamber. Star Wars: Republic Commando is the first in an armada of Star Wars-based titles planned for 2005, not coincidentally in preparation for the final film in the sci-fi series. Given the intense pressure for developers to churn out marketable Star Wars product, Republic Commando could easily become the equivalent of bantha poodoo stuck on the rusty treads of a jawa sandcrawler. Fortunately, that’s not the case. Not every horror movie can be The Ring, and not every survival horror game can be Resident Evil 4. Most don't aspire to those heights, and make due with what they have. Cold Fear, on the other hand, reaches for the brass ring, yet the game screams second-tier almost as much as it screams bloody murder. It's a capable and ambitious thriller, but also has more problems than a vegetarian zombie. How many times have you purchased a game only to discover that what the developers put on the CD bares little or no relation to the title on the box? We can’t be sure exactly what the people at Blue Byte were thinking, but Heritage of Kings: The Settlers is about as far from a Settlers game you can get without switching genres altogether. When you get right down to it, the whole point of online games is to let you play with and against other likeminded gamers. But many massively multiplayer online RPGs shy away from out and out confrontation between players. RYL (which stands for Risk Your Life) is a new massively-multiplayer game from Planetwide Games that appears to thrive on conflict and the tasty rewards for beating down your enemy. Tune in tonight!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review SWAT 4. While well-meaning legislators continue to decry Rockstar’s ho-beating extravaganza as an accurate, all-encompassing representation of video games, Sierra quietly releases SWAT 4, a tense, realistic, and very violent tactical shooter. It’s too bad a game that portrays the police as professional, caring human beings instead of corrupt scumbags will go unnoticed by our elected officials. SWAT 4 also rewards careful and appropriate use of force, and punishes wanton recklessness with failure. But don’t expect that little tidbit to make the 6 o’clock news. Bah. Ok, I’m getting off my soapbox now. You probably just want to know if SWAT 4 is worth a purchase. The answer is yes. If the Nintendo DS is going to be a worthy successor to the Game Boy line instead of a gimmick platform (i.e., Virtual Boy, e-Reader), its software has to deliver compelling gameplay. This is typically the area where Nintendo shines brightest, especially regarding the company’s character-driven properties. And the Nintendo DS is on the right track, already having a Mario game, a Wario game, an upcoming Princess game, and now a Yoshi game. Yoshi: Touch & Go shows off the Nintendo DS, but it isn’t the meaty platformer most would expect. While the vibrant color, cheerful sound, and whimsical theme are classic Nintendo, the title’s surprisingly narrow scope will make you wonder if Touch & Go was originally supposed to be a minigame for another title. Forget the bloodless kills of Medal of Honor--Brothers in Arms is a shooter that doesn’t shy away from any of the aspects of wartime. Bloody corpses, the shell shock of having a grenade go off a few feet from your boots, and the frightening openness of the battlefield constantly remind you that this game is never timid about authenticity. A sobering look at World War II, it’s effective and affecting, and makes it mean something that your squad is in your hands. While the idea of

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review the infamous NARC. Gamers who grew up in the '80s (or just picked up the latest Midway Collection) might have fond memories of the ultra-violent, two-player cooperative, anti-drug romp called Narc. It's a graphically impressive (for the time) coin-op shooter where you mow down bizarre syringe-throwing, uzi-toting psychopaths in the name of justice. Midway is bringing the series back. Arcade junkies are having happy thoughts. Right? After years of bopping around on Nintendo’s home consoles, Mario Party has finally made it to the small screen. But unlike previous efforts, Mario Party Advance is obviously geared towards the solo player. It's hard to believe that fighting games were once the dominant genre throughout the '90s, especially given the current climate. Now fighting games are about as popular as Steven Seagal movies, with only a handful of companies releasing sequels to such tried-and-true franchises as Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and Virtua Fighter. Original fighting games, which may very well be an oxymoron, are even harder to come by these days, making one wonder if the genre has been knocked on its posterior a few too many times. Konami has decided to throw caution to the wind with its own attempt at knuckle-cracking combat, a four-player simultaneous fighting game based on the Japanese manga and anime, Rave Master, airing on the Cartoon Network here in the States. Rave Master for Game Boy Advance is the second fighting game starring characters and locales from the Cartoon Network’s animated series of the same name. Rather than follow the same format as the GameCube version, Rave Master on the color handheld features a different lineup of heroes, a new combat system, and obviously a different perspective on the slap-happy action. It also offers four-player simultaneous action--a rare feature for a portable fighting game. Plus, don't miss out on our Weird Games feature. Tune in tonight!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we preview Predator: Concrete Jungle. The greatest foe Arnold Schwarzenegger ever faced wasn’t a political opponent; think unstoppable alien menace the Predator instead. But while dozens of games have let audiences play the aforementioned actor, few have chosen to cast sci-fi enthusiasts as his extraterrestrial nemesis. Enter Concrete Jungle, an attempt at shedding some light on the creature’s history, as well as, providing it with a headlining role. We at X-Play take a look at what it’s like controlling an assassin who hunts humans for sport. Atari finally made a good Dragon Ball Z console game in Budokai 3. While it wasn't a universally appealing fighter, its mechanics and production shined--especially when compared to previous efforts. Riding this wave of progress like a young Goku on his flying Nimbus Cloud, Atari and developer Avalanche Software tackle a new genre--the third-person action game. Bad move, as Dragon Ball Z: Sagas crashes into a flaming heap from the word go. At times like this it's nice not to be English. Not that there's anything wrong with England (just ask Tony Blair) but if we hailed from that green land there'd be a chance we actually knew how to play rugby, and this release from EA would probably be a lot more disappointing. While the publisher is an old hand with soccer, the sport of rugby is a more recent addition to the EA stable. This year, the company has embraced the sport of scrums, finally bringing the franchise to the Xbox. But is Rugby 2005 sporting news, or like a face full of dirt? In the early 19th century, playing chess via the postal service was the hottest multiplayer game around, but the lag was insufferable. A hundred years later the ham radio helped the lag, but required a lot of overhead. These days we have games where thousands can play together in real-time over the internet without postage stamps or radio licenses, so when a modern game comes along with multiplayer that

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review Unreal Championship 2. After years of evolution, console shooters still feel inferior to their PC counterparts. Give a hand, then, to Epic Games, for spitting in the genre's face. Blatantly disregarding fanboy howls, it's tweaked its franchise so thoroughly that The Liandri Conflict might as well be the beginning of a totally different series. When a review copy of a World War II game arrives on your desk, it usually means you’re about to slog through yet another first-person shooter that desperately tries to emulate Saving Private Ryan or Band of Brothers. Or it’ll be a real-time strategy game filled with the same troops, vehicles, and missions we’ve been playing for years. But what’s this? A submarine simulation? I thought these kinds of games were sent to a watery grave back in the early '90s. What modern gamer has the patience or raw brainpower to handle this kind of game? It turns out that Silent Hunter III is not only the most detailed, deep, and beautiful sub sim to come along in ages, it’s also very accessible. Rayman DS marks the latest refugee from the Nintendo 64 line-up, since it’s basically a port of Rayman 2: The Great Escape. Admittedly, Rayman 2 is a great game, so it’s not an unwelcome addition to the fledgling DS library. It’s just a shame that Ubisoft hasn’t gone the extra mile to optimize it for Nintendo's latest portable. On the silver screen, horror is often the place where hacks go to thrive. Thanks to movies like Scream, we endure high school horror featuring redundant scares and suspiciously beautiful students. Now that approach has fully infected gaming, and Obscure replicates a Wes Craven flick right down to the aggro soundtrack and revealing costumes. Plus, a Games for Cheap People feature. Tune in tonight!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review Juiced. If you remember, X-Play reviewed Juiced back in October of 2004. Acclaim, the game's publisher at the time, sent us builds marked as "review." We reviewed the game and completed the segment for the show. One day before the review segment was to air, Acclaim filed for bankruptcy and Juiced was never released. It was too late to pull the segment before it aired. Since then, THQ picked up the game and the developer continued to work on it for the next several months. Tonight's review is based upon the updated version of the game. What would you do with $40,000? The makers of Juiced are asking for complete suspension of disbelief, guessing you’d throw your life away, dump all of your ducats into a street racing machine, then join the Angel City underground street racing circuit. As unbelievable as it might be, at least it sounds fun. Ancient Greece and Rome are big in video games recently. Koei, a company that frequently draws on history, must have figured “Well, when in Rome...” Colosseum: Road to Freedom gives you the chance to become a slave gladiator with the option to buy your own freedom. X-Play has already started saving up, and we’re giving you our early impressions. If your last effort at diplomacy was offering up your Hostess snack cakes to appease a disgruntled bully’s hunger pangs, then you may want to brush up on your negotiating skills. Japanese developer Koei is poised to release its tenth video game based on the 600-year-old Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel, which features more political intrigue and betrayals than a routine episode of 24. It's a subject near and dear to the publisher’s heart, with the Dynasty Warriors and Kessen franchises both drawing their characters and battles from the same source material. Fans of the earlier Romance of the Three Kingdoms games, which have been invading console systems since the musty, dusty NES, understand that the series hasn’t survived for

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we preview Pac-Pix. Back when the Nintendo DS was unveiled at E3 2004 there were a lot of cool concepts on display, but we wondered if they'd ultimately turn into viable games. One such concept was Pac-Pix, a quirky demo that allowed you to draw Pac-Man and then watch him animate across the screen. Unable to repress our curiosity, we imported the final Japanese version to give the pill-eating, pizza-shaped retro icon a touch or two. While sifting through the mountain of praise heaped on Psychonauts by the gaming media, it's easy to forget that this unique platformer from the twisted mind of Tim Schafer (Day of the Tentacle, Grim Fandango, Full Throttle) was one of a handful of games unceremoniously dropped from Microsoft's release list last year. Much like the similarly dropped Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath was for Electronic Arts, Microsoft's loss is Majesco's gain, as Psychonauts is one of the most unique, enjoyable, and genuinely funny games being released this year. We haven’t heard a lot from Gas Powered Games over the past few years. The fledgling developer wowed us with the first Dungeon Siege and released the obligatory expansion treatment the next year, but since then all we’ve heard have been a series of delays for the sequel. We’ve finally managed to get our hands on a preview build of Dungeon Siege II, and while it’s improved over the original, it remains to be seen whether it will be worth the wait. We have a healthy respect for classic series here at X-Play, and it’s our solemn duty to tell you what dedicated Slug-heads already know. Metal Slug 5 is getting closer to its PS2 release. Despite having even less story than a typical Metal Slug game, it's a new crisis of sorts with new bad guys waiting to be filled with bullets. And as SNK’s official site so eloquently tells us, new crises require new slugs! Plus, a History of Tim Schafer Games with Shad Grimgravy segment. Tune in tonight!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review Jade Empire, Polarium and Tork. Plus, segments on Weird Games and Hispanic Stereotypes in Games.

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review Doom 3 for the Xbox. Throughout the long, long development of Doom 3, questions were raised as to whether the humble Xbox would be able to handle the game in all its graphical glory. But it turns out that developer Vicarious Visions has got some powerful mojo. It's been able to port over Doom 3 more or less in tact and includes a multiplayer co-op mode. But we know the score. We know what you are all wondering. How does the Xbox version of Doom 3 stack up against the PC version? You’d think that after all the trouble you went through closing the gates of hell in Doom 3, they’d have a courtesy to stay shut. Then again, without some gaping maw leading straight to the netherworld, we wouldn’t get to play Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil. And that means no double-barreled shotgun. And a world without a double-barreled shotgun is a very sad and lonely place indeed. There’s nothing more aggravating than being stuck in traffic after a hard day’s work, except perhaps getting a speeding ticket for trying to make up for lost time. Fortunately for us, video games give us a chance to escape the mundane, a license to do the things we could not normally do in real life without suffering serious consequences. FlatOut is a game that encourages you to let off some steam and to channel that road rage into something constructive. It’s a demolition racing game where the goal of finishing first is often secondary to ramming the fenders off your competition. Plus, a Sin City Parody. Tune in tonight!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we give you the lowdown on what's going to be hot at this year's E3. We have exclusive looks at new games S.T.A.L.K.E.R., Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures and Blazing Angels: Heroes of WWII. And don't miss out on the FIRST released footage of Half-Life 2 for the Xbox. See the game here BEFORE it premieres at E3. Tune in tonight!

On tonight's episode, Star Wars invades X-Play with a review of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Back in 1999, the Episode I game set the standard for awful Star Wars prequel tie-in games. Episode II didn’t even have a direct tie-in, just a spin-off car combat game called Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Now, with Episode III in theatres, can The Collective work a little bit of the same licensed game magic it did with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb? Plus, don't miss out on our Star Wars Celebration feature, Star Wars Games Retrospective and an Epic Lightsaber Battle! Tune in tonight!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review Spy vs. Spy, which is a license that's really loaded with game-crossover potential. The comics chronicle the never-ending struggle between two mortal enemies, one-upping each other in the most outrageous of ways. The game, on the other hand, doesn't one-up much, but at least throws in an arsenal of modes and match types for its tiny price tag. Going by the gaming industry, Vietnam is the new WWII. Admittedly, after the slew of popular World War II games, Vietnam seems a likely choice to turn to for virtual warfare, but the results have been strangely lackluster. Adding to the list of recent lackluster ‘Nam games is Elite Warriors: Vietnam. It’s rare that developers create a title specifically designed for the necrophilia. Developer Microids and publisher The Adventure Company are paving new ground with Still Life, a necrophilia dating sim thinly disguised as a point-and-click adventure game. Like most dating sims, Still Life has a lot of buildup leading to a decidedly anticlimactic finale, but there’s no shortage of action on display here--and plenty of naked corpses, too. Plus, don't miss out on The X-Play Boards song and a Splinter Cell Co-op Theater segment. Tune in tonight!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we honor the best of the best at E3 with our "Best of E3 '05" Award Show. Once a year, the video game industry gathers at the Los Angeles Convention Center for the Electronic Entertainment Expo to unveil new games, new consoles and a whole lot of hype. E3 '05 was most notable for launching the new console cycle. We saw the debut of the Xbox 360, the PS3 and Nintendo's Revolution. But, all the hot hardware in the world doesn't make a difference if we can't play your product on the showroom floor. So, bottom line, if we can't play it we can't consider it for a "Best of E3" Award. With that said, we nominated games in the following categories: Best Xbox Game Best PC Game Best GameCube Game Best Handheld Game Best PS2 Game Best Multiplatform Game Best Original Game Best of E3 Game And the winner is.... You'll have to tune in tonight to find out!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review WrestleMania XXI. Wrestling has proven time and time again that it’s capable of causing mania. WrestleMania XXI is a monument to this fact, but it’s also a monument to cut corners, rough edges, stupid opponents, and lost potential. The game has certain qualities that fans will appreciate, but you’ll pay for every ounce of enjoyment with frustration. Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition is exactly the competition EA needs to get the Need for Speed Underground series back on track. Skirting any pretense, this third iteration of the street racing series isn’t quite as flashy and definitely doesn’t have the same level of precise, simulation-style controls, but it does pretty much everything else right. It’s also the most entertaining racer since Burnout 3. Atlus, that small publisher of big RPGs is back, with another solid strategy game from the same group responsible for the PSone’s much maligned Hoshigami. While it's clearly learned from past mistakes, Stella Deus mires itself in some strategy aspects that won’t excite most. Plus, a WrestleMania event segment and a feature on Games for Cheap People. Tune in tonight!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review LEGO Star Wars. When pondering the building blocks of a successful video game, one may think of many things--among them, eye-popping graphics, intuitive control, and clever gameplay. You don't usually think of LEGOs, but in this case, that would also be an acceptable answer. LEGO Star Wars brings back exciting two-player action while hitting all the high points of Episodes I through III. And everyone has a little rivet on their head to boot. Will the Xbox ever get its equivalent of the spectacular Gran Turismo series? Will anyone ever be able to match what Sony and Polyphony Entertainment have accomplished with the franchise? Up until the release of Forza Motorsport, the answer would have been a resounding "no!" Now, that resounding no has become a forceful "maybe!" Delta Force was one of the titles that helped popularize the tactical first-person shooter genre back in the late '90s. “Xtreme” is an intentional misspelling of one of the most over-used words of the 2000’s--a word that attempts to imply action and drama but conversely makes people think of bargain-bin monster truck videos. Combine the two together and you get Delta Force: Xtreme, a lackluster update to a classic game that provides a bit of knuckle-headed fun, but ultimately proves better graphics do not a better game make. Plus, Weird and Beergoogle Game segments. Tune in tonight!

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review games that end in 2: Resident Evil Outbreak File 2, Stronghold 2 and Dead to Rights 2. Plus, segments on the "Home Schwag Network" and "Now, That's What I Cal...

On tonight's episode of X-Play, Adam and Morgan feel the love with a review of Singles: Flirt Up Your Life. Plus, Games that make you feel funny, Over-the-top character models and Not-so-nice girls in games.

Enthusia Professional Racing If you're the type of virtual racer who wants to deal with the super-realism of a hardcore simulator, you won't want to miss our review of Enthusia Professional Racing. With Enthusia, you'll get a good-looking, challenging game with a nice collection of cars to win and race. You'll also get the steep learning curve that some gamers thrive on. In the end, however, the biggest thing working against Enthusia is the timing of its release. Coming out at the same time as Forza Motorsport, and so soon after Gran Turismo 4--two games that offer so much more--means Enthusia gets the lowest spot on the podium, coming in a distant third to its two much more powerful, polished competitors. Pac-Pix And what's up with Pac Man's latest dot-munching exploits in the Nintendo DS puzzle game Pac-Pix? Pac-Pix began its life as a DS technology demo before it was fleshed out into a full release--but is it ultimately more gimmick than game? Pac-Pix is fun while it lasts, but like the title character’s insatiable appetite, you will be hungry for more. It needs more levels, more objects to draw, and a few alternate play modes to make this game worth penciling in for most puzzle game fans. There’s also no reason why the original arcade game couldn’t have been “pac-ed” onto this cart, perhaps with the ability to guide the character with the stylus instead of the directional pad. As it stands, Pac-Pix is an entertaining diversion for a few hours, but its long-term value is more than a little sketchy. Donkey Konga 2 The original Donkey Konga was definitely one of the most entertaining music-based games since DDR and Samba de Amigo. Not even a year later, the sequel is out, but Nintendo can once again pull off creative, charming and simple fun? As with the endless line of Dance Dance Revolution games, it’s Donkey Konga 2 is less a new game and more of a slight song upgrade to the original. If you loved the original and just want

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we check out games your momma definitely wouldn't like: NARC, God of War, Predator: Concrete Jungle and Bloodrayne 2.

Guild Wars For some gamers, paying upwards of $10 a month for the privilege of spending hours killing rodents, making casual virtual friends, and generally doing busywork is a hard sell. Plenty of folks are still willing to devote the time and the money to have elite characters, but with the online gaming market more crowded than ever, a more lightweight option is in order for the casual players. They want an entertaining online RPG they can enjoy while still having a life, and without the monthly fee. That’s exactly what Guild Wars delivers, and it does so brilliantly. The level cap and somewhat simplified elements of Guild Wars may disappoint the most hardcore of online RPG players, but most will find it to be a refreshing change of pace. Casual gamers can feel free to jump in and play for a few hours a week without worrying about getting their money’s worth, while more dedicated players can spend hours and hours earning abilities for their characters through quests and recognition for their guild through tournaments. Guild Wars may not offer the typical experience, but in many ways it’s better for it. Pokemon Emerald Clearly Nintendo’s marketing empire has been sneaking Viagra into Pikachu’s water supply. That prolific little yellow rat’s back, this time with another fully engorged installment of the prolific Pokémon series. Like Pokémon Yellow and Crystal before it, Pokémon Emerald is a remixed version of previous titles, namely the GBA’s Ruby and Sapphire entries. You’ll be catching the same Pokémon on the same island chain, but the story (if you could call it that) has been expanded, adding new dungeons and areas to explore. Without a doubt Pokémon Emerald is the best Pokémon RPG to date, but if you’ve played Ruby and Sapphire and didn’t care enough to catch them all and memorize all of their cute little names, then there probably isn’t much here for you. If you’re interested in the series and still haven’t giv

Once a year, the video game industry gathers at the Los Angeles Convention Center for the Electronic Entertainment Expo to unveil new games, new consoles and a whole lot of hype. Now that the dust has settled from E3 '05, we're sorting through the rubble and taking a second look at the most memorable aspects of this year's show. Plus, we take another walk through the Sega Booth and fondly remember gnerd, Ratty and the Hand and Johnny Xtreme.

On tonight's episode of X-Play, we review Colosseum: Road to Freedom, Wario Ware: Twisted, Dungeon Lords and Haunting Grounds.

We take a look at Need For Speed Underground 2, Raze's Hell, Spikeout Battle Street. Plus, Games for Cheap Bastards and Splinter Cell Co-op Theater 3.

While we're on summer break, we leave you with a few tasty treats to stay cool: Movie Games We'd Love to Play, Real-life RPG and Splinter Cell Co-op Play Theater. Plus, the Morgan Webb grilled cheese sparks a spiritual revolution.

We give you the goods on Destroy All Humans, Imperial Glory, City of Villains and a roundup of weird games. Plus, we take a listen to Splinter Cell noise in everday life.

We check out Conker: Live & Reloaded, Yoshi: Topsy Turvy, Trackmania Sunrise and more! Plus, Most Offensive Videogame Moments.

We review Puyo Pop Fever, Advent Rising, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, and ER. Plus, our First Look Preview of DOA 4.

We review Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence and Postal 2: Apocalypse Weekend. Plus, we offer up some Games for Cheap Bastards and Games for Rich Bastards.

We review Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Fullmetal Alchemist 2 and take a First Look Preview of AND 1. Plus, Def Jam Fight for NY Spoiler Theatre.

We review Medal of Honor: European Assault Kirby: Canvas Curse and Flatout. Plus, we take a peak at some Letters from Home with Game Characters.

It's four times the fun as we take a First Look Preview at Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, and review Metal Slug 4 & 5 and Digimon World 4. Plus, an Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction preview and Weird Games.

We review Pump It Up: Exceed and In the Groove. Plus, a First Look Preview of Shadow the Hedgehog and Dancing Games with Shad Grimgravy.

We review Area 51 and take a stroll down memory lane to remember ET for the Arari 2600...and why it sucked so bad.

We have a monkey! Seriously, a real live helper monkey. He helps us around the office, reviews monkey-related games, and takes a fond look back at the history of the biggest ape of them all, Donkey Kong.

We review Metal Gear Acid and Lumines. Plus, we preview Inuyasha and offer up Games for Cheap Bastards.

This X-Play's jam-packed with reviews! We review two new games on the PS2: Batman Begins and Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, as well as offer a preview of Gundam Seed. Then we go portable and check out Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory for the DS and Spider-Man 2 on PSP.

We preview Electroplankton, We Love Katamari, Okami, and Genji. Plus, Weird Games and the Soul Calibur 3 Trailer.

We check out GTA: San Andreas on the Xbox and see just what all the fuss is all about. Plus, we review Twisted Metal and preview Ridge Racer and Auto Assault (PC).

We review THUG 2 Remix, MegaMan 5: Battle Network and Arc the Lad 2. Plus, Game Characters in Real Life and X-Play Investigates: Bad Dialogue in Videogames.

We review NFL Street 2, Makai Kingdom: Chronicles of the Sacred Stone, Echo: Secrets of the Lost Cavern and Flipnic Pinball. Plus, Splinter Cell Co-op Theater 4.

We check out Fullmetal Alchemist 2, Tiger Woods PGA Tour, Battlefield 2 and more! Plus, our Hot Shots Golf review and Games for Cheap Bastards.

We review GoldenEye Rogue Agent DS, Darkstalkers, Capcom: Fighting Evolution and Bomberman DS. Plus, we show you trailers for Viewtiful Joe VFX Battle and Final Fantasy VII Advent Children.

MVP Baseball 05 and MLB 2005 reviews. Plus, a preview of The Suffering 2: Ties That Bind and trailers for 50 Cent: Bulletproof and Stranglehold.

We review NCAA Football 2006, Dynasty Warriors, Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana and Killer7. Plus, we show you the Full Spectrum Warrior: 10 Hammers Trailer.

Reviews of FIFA and Fate, as well as a preview of Fable: The Lost Chapters. Plus, we'll show you trailers for F.E.A.R, Front Mission Online and Phoenix Wright, Attorney and a Final Fantasy VII PS3 Tech Demo.

Reviews of Gretzky, RYL, WipeOut and our newest addiction, Meteos. Plus, we preview Indigo Prophecy.

We review Riviera and NBA Street Showdown. Plus, a preview of Digital Devil Saga 2, Games for Cheap Bastards and Full Metal Alchemist 2: The Revenge (This Time It's Personal.)

We preview One Piece: Grand Battle, NHRA Drag Racing and Bet on Soldier: Blood Sport. Plus, our review of Ape Escape on the PSP and our MythCrackers re-enactment of game cliches.

We review Romance of the Three Kingdoms X, Rengoku and Mercury. Plus, we offer up a preview of We Heart Katamari and show you some more Weird Games.

We take an advance peek at Shadow of the Colossus and D.I.C.E.. Plus, our reviews of Fantastic Four, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Harvest Moon: Another Wonderful Life.

Previews of Total Overdose, Trauma Center and Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves. Plus, a review of Nanostray and Games for Cheap Bastards.

Reviews of Madden NFL 06, Outlaw Tennis, Mario Baseball and Smart Bomb. Plus, our WWE Day of Reckoning Preview.

We review Delta Force Black Hawk Down and Dungeon Siege 2. Plus, previews of Lost in the Blue and Scooby Doo: Unmasked and our special Halo 2 Map Pack Overview.

First we take a look at some new handheld titles, with reviews of Nintendogs on the DS and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on the GBA. Plus, we review Squad Assault: Second Wave, Radiata Stories and 187: Ride or Die.

"Number five is alive!"...and he wants you to tune into this very special, very robotic episode of X-Play. We pay tribute to our machine masters with a History of Mech Games, Games for Robot Bastards and a special look at ROB for the NES: Where Is It Now? Plus, we review Mobile Suit Gundam vs. Zeta Gundam.

We review Inuyasha and Ghost Recon 2: Summit Strike and preview Tak: The Great Juju Challenge. Also, tune in for our review of Sid Meier's Pirates! to see if the game will put some wind in your sails or make you want to walk the plank. Plus, we take a look at GenCon.

We preview Fatal Frame III with a look inside the Fatal Frame event. Plus our review of Darkwatch and more Games for Cheap Bastards.

Tune in for Adam and Morgan's previews of Ninja Gaiden: Black and Age of Empires 3. Plus, Hulk: Ultimate Destruction XBox Review and Hello Kitty: Roller Rescue Review. Plus, EB Games presents another Weird Game and we dissect some viewer mail.

Konnichiwa from Tokyo! Morgan and Adam jet to Japan for Tokyo Game Show 2005. They also take a peek at some important imports with Brain Teaser Vol. 1 & 2, Jump Superstars and Ossu! Tatakae! Ouendan! on the DS. Plus, Earth Defense Force 2 and Michigan.

We review Burnout Revenge, Evil Dead: Regeneration and Big Mutha Truckers 2. Plus, our Burnout Revenge Preview and our review of Trauma Center: Under the Knife.

X-Play previews Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit and Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes. Plus, our reviews of Dynasty Warriors Advance and Moto GP 3 and another Games for Cheap Bastards.

X-Play brings you the full-length trailer for Metal Gear Solid 4. Plus, our reviews of S.L.A.I. and Genji: Dawn of the Samurai.

Reviews for Fable: The Lost Chapters, Sigma Star Saga and Spartan: Total Warrior. Plus, we show off some trailers from Tokyo Games Show: Chrome Hounds and Rumble Roses XX. And once again, more Weird Games.

We preview Serious Sam II and Cold War. Plus, our reviews of Rainbow Six Lockdown and Graffiti Kingdom and a trailer for Ryu-Ga-Go-To-Ku.

We review Yu-Gi-Oh: Nightmare Troubadour, Battalion Wars, and Sims 2: Nightline. Plus, we take a look at NHL '06 and Urban Reign.

We review Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2, Burnout Revenge and Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects. Plus, we'll spoil you with a Digital Devil Saga 1 Spoiler Theater and more Games for Cheap Bastards.

On this episode of X-Play, we review Gretzky '06, DDR Extreme 2, and Indigo Prophecy. Plus, we have previews for Conflict: Global Terror and Magna Carta.

We review Madden NFL 2006, WWE Day of Reckoning, NASCAR '06 Total Team Control and Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves. Plus, we've got a preview of SOCOM 3: US Navy Seals.

We've got reviews of Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks, F.E.A.R., Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow and The Suffering: Ties That Bind. Plus, a look at another weird game, Kuon.

We've got previews of The Chronicles of Narnia and Star Wars: Battlefront II, plus reviews of Rome: Total War - Barbarian Invasion, X-Men Legends 2, and Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes.

On today's X-Play, we've got reviews of Virtua Tennis World Tour, Pokemon XD, DK: King of Swing and Myst V: End of Ages. Plus, Adam reveals his sensitive side in Sensitive Sess: The Man who Played Pokemon.

On today's X-Play, we've got reviews of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, Nibiru: Age of Secrets, Trace Memory, Jak X: Combat Racing, and NHL 2K6.

It's another all-review X-Play as we find out what the experts thought about NBA Live 06, Black & White 2, Pac 'N Roll, Blitzkrieg II and Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams.

On today's X-Play, get ready for reviews of Ratchet: Deadlocked, L.A. Rush, Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood, Lunar Dragon Song, and Coded Arms.

On today's X-Play, get ready for a smorgasboard of reviews including Ultimate Spider-Man, NBA 2K6, Dungeons & Dragons Dragonshard, Need For Speed Underground: Rivals and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06.

You know already that We Love Katamari, but how much? Plus, we've got reviews for ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin' Trails and Armored Core: Nine Breaker. And don't tuck the kids away for bed just yet--we've also got previews of Neopets: The Darkest Fairy and The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer.

Today on X-Play, we'll break it down to you and let you know the facts about Legend of Kay, Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge, Top Spin and Metroid Prime: Pinball. Plus, don't miss the Bob and Steve and the birthday surprise in our newest edition of Splinter Cell Co-Op Theater!

On today's episode of X-Play, get Morgan and Adam's perspectives on the following huge titles: Shadow of the Colossus, City of Villains and RPG Maker 3. Then, get out your slime controller 'cause we'll be previewing Dragon Quest VIII and put on your tin foil hat to protect yourself from that stuff in Xyanide, which we'll be previewing as well.

It's another reviewapalooza on today's X-Play, with reviews of Frogger: Ancient Shadow, Lost in Blue, Heroes of the Pacific, and Romancing SaGa. Plus, we'll talk to the Governatuh to get Ahnuld's views on violence in games in "Arnold Says Yes to No Violence."

Hedgehog lovers, set your TiVos for this very special X-Play featuring real racing hedgehogs. Of course, if you prefer for your hedgehogs to move much more quickly, you'd probably prefer our preview of Shadow the Hedgehog. Plus, we review Blitz: The Leage, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney and FIFA Soccer 06.

Trust X-Play to inform you on all the games you should give and get this holiday season.

Today on X-Play, we review Mobile Suit Gundam Seed: Never Ending Tomorrow, NCAA March Madness 06, Voyage, Age of Empires III and Snowboard Kids DS.

We review SSX on Tour, Cold War, Warhammer 40,000 Winter Assault, and Devil Kings, plus, Zombie outtakes!

Yes, the Xbox 360 just launched and we're already going to review some of the year's hottest Xbox 360 titles. Amazing!

Today on X-Play, we review Castlevania: Curse of Darkness, Dance Dance Revolution Mario Mix, Far Cry Instincts, Disney's Chicken Little, and Asheron's Call: Throne of Destiny.

X-Play takes a serious look at Serious Sam 2, gets down with Star Wars Battlefront II, takes Fatal Frame 3 for a spin, checks out Trapt and even reviews Neopets: Darkest Faerie, the first ever Neopets videogame.

Today on X-Play, we review Quake 4, Stubbs the Zombie, Worms 4, WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2006 and a sad little title called Zatch Bell: Mamodo Battles.

On today's X-Play, we review Mega Man Zero 4, Magna Carta: Tears of Blood, Total Overdose: A Gunslinger's Tale in Mexico, and Gunstar Super Heroes. Plus, we've got a preview of the beautiful, artsy Okami.

On today's X-Play, we review some spectacular games and some that are also not too shabby. Find out which ones are which, as we closely examine Need For Speed: Most Wanted, Resident Evil 4 for the PS2, Shining Force Neo and Mario Kart DS.

Today on X-Play, we review Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, Amped 3, Sonic Rush and From Russia With Love.

Today on X-Play, we review the game adaptation of cult film The Warriors, the beautiful Civilization IV, and the aging Tony Hawk's American Wasteland. Plus, we've got reviews of Splat Magazine Renegade Paintball and Conflict: Global Terror.

Today on X-Play, we review the console version of The Sims 2, Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Sniper Elite and Spyro: Shadow Legacy. Plus, don't miss "Bob and Steve: The Revengening."

Today on X-Play, we review Dragon Ball GT: Transformation, Crash Tag Team Racing, Bet on Soldier: Blood Sport, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Peter Jackson's King Kong.

Today on X-Play, we review The Movies, Gun for the Xbox 360, Soul Calibur III, Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King, and Perfect Dark Zero.